Malus sylvestris

Native from Europe to Turkey, this deciduous tree develops a broad, irregular crown and can reach about 33 feet tall. Sweetly scented blossoms appear in spring, followed by small yellow-green apples that may be flushed red. The species occurs in woodland edges and scrub, and contributed to the ancestry of cultivated apples as they spread through Europe. Bees and other insects pollinate the blossoms, while birds and mammals eat the fruit and disperse the seeds. The tart apples are used for jelly, and their pectin helps jams set. Photographed in Colombia.